Trip overview

This tour lets you explore Indochina's definitive highlights in a relatively short amount of time, but at a comfortable and enjoyable pace. The 16 days itinerary takes you to all of Indochina's must-sees - including magical Luang Prabang, the astonishing Angkor Temples, and Halong Bay, with its junks and limestone karsts - as well as finding time for stops at other cultural highlights like Phnom Penh, old imperial Hue, charming Hoi An, impressive Hanoi and modern Ho Chi Minh City

Trip overview

This tour lets you explore Indochina's definitive highlights in a relatively short amount of time, but at a comfortable and enjoyable pace. The 16 days itinerary takes you to all of Indochina's must-sees - including magical Luang Prabang, the astonishing Angkor Temples, and Halong Bay, with its junks and limestone karsts - as well as finding time for stops at other cultural highlights like Phnom Penh, old imperial Hue, charming Hoi An, impressive Hanoi and modern Ho Chi Minh City

Tour itinerary

Warmest welcome by tour guide upon arrival, and drop at Silk Farm then to hotel for check in.

Afternoon visit Floating Villages of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a ride in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia and the largest in Asia. Here you’ll see plenty of examples of the Khmer way of life on the Tonle Sap. Drop in visit Wat Bo, Les Artisans D'Angkor,

Hotels:

08:00 am. After having a nice breakfast at the hotel, visit the South Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon Temple – built by Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th, in the exact center of the city of Angkor Thom, Baphuon , Phimean Akas, Elephants and Leper King Terraces.

Afternoon visit Ta Prohm invaded by the roots of giant baniyan then to discover Angkor Wat that is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking it is a massive three tiered pyramid crowned by five beehive-like tower rising 65 meter from ground level. Have a moat and exterior wall measuring 1300 x 1500 meters surround Angkor Wat. The temple itself is 1km square and consists of their levels surmounted by a central towel. The walls of the temple are covered inside and out with bas-reliefs and carving. Nearly 2000 distinctively rendered Apsara carving adorn the walls.

Hotels:

Welcome at airport by tour guide for pick up and transfer to check in hotel!

This morning we will transfer to sightseeing Wat Phnom located a short distance from the Royal Palace, the heart of capital, the centre of Phnom Penh that gives the city its name. Legend has it that a wealthy widow named “Yeay Penh” was walking by the Mekong River one day when she spied a Koki Tree log floating near the bank and the story was started until now become an interesting history and Royal Palace was built in 1866, during the reign of Kong Norodom. There are five points of interest inside the palace included and Silver Pagoda was formerly known as Wat Uborsoth Rotannaram because it is where the King worshiped, prayed and practiced every Buddhist Silas Day. We will drop in visiting Independent and Victoria Monument.

Afternoon visit Tuol Sleng Genocidal Museum, it is the former Tuol Sleng High School. In 1975, during the Khmer Rouge regime, the school was used as a prison and torture center, known as S-21. Thousands of Cambodians and a number of foreigners were housed and tortured there. Also have a visit at Russian Market!

Hotels:

08:00 am. Breakfast at your hotel, free until time transfer to airport for Flight to Ho Chi Minh Arrive in Ho Chi Minh – Tan Son Nhat International Airport. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh

Hotels:

After breakfast , 08:00 A.m we depart to Cai Be. Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark on a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market to see local people selling, buying, and exchanging goods from their boats. Visit a local garden and house to see orchards, rice crisped producing process, etc... After lunch cruising along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire the marvelous natural setting of the Mekong Delta region.

About 3 pm, the boat will arrive at Vinh Long Market; walk around to explore Vinh Long Market before returning to Saigon

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

DistanceSaigon Central – Cai Be : 110km à03 hour transfer

Hotels:

Leaving from your hotel at around 7:30 AM, you will enjoy a drive through typical southern Vietnamese countryside to Tay Ninh province in the west of Viet Nam. You will visit the Cao Dai temple with fantastic architecture where all major faiths of the world blend together in a unique religious cocktail with an amazing noon ceremony. Up to you if it’s your taste or not.

After lunch in a local restaurant, you will have the chance to visit the famous Cu Chi tunnels, the vestiges of the American war, an underground tunnel system constructed by Vietnamese soldiers. Then you will go back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotels:

After a breakfast, our car pick up and transfer toairport for flight to Da Nang in the morning

On arrival Da Nang airport, You will meet driver and guide pick up you and transfer to Hoi An. Here you will visit the Cham museum, China beach and Marble mountains. You can enjoy a walking tour (short distance) to visit the 17th century Quan Cong temple, Phuoc Kien pagoda, Japanese covered bridge (constructed in 1593), Sa Huynh museum and Phung Hung house.

Hotels:

08:00 am. After a breakfast at hotel, transfer to Hue. On the way from Hoi An to Hue, you stop at the top of the Hai Van pass and drop by Lang Co fishing village.

On arrival Hue, you will visit the old Imperial Citadel, the mausoleum of the former emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh, constructed as the king himself planned and chose the location in the middle of the pine forest. You then will take a boat trip on the romantic Perfume river to visit the most famous religious site in Hue: Thien Mu pagoda and Dong Ba market.

Arrive in Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport. You will be met at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel in downtown Hanoi

In the afternoon we will see the Museum of Ethnology(Close on Monday)then we will attend a traditional Water Puppet show. This art originates from rural festivals in Vietnam. The artists – men and women – stand waist deep in the water to manipulate the puppets, making them move about, talk and laugh and even dance on the surface of the water. The audience is meant to experience the atmosphere of a village festival. Then visit Hoan Kiem Lake (The Restored Sword Lake) and the Ngoc Son Temple, which is on an island in the northern part of the lake. We will enjoy a Cyclo tour along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The Old Quarter includes 36 old streets with each name representative of the type of merchandise sold in it

Distance:Hanoi Central-Noi Bai Airport: 30 km <=> 50 minute transfer

Hue airport – Hue centre: 20 km <=> 40 minute transfer

Hotels:

7:45 A.m drive to Halong Bay (3,5 hours), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whoever comes to Vietnam should not miss the chance to visit Halong Bay, a picturesque blend of harmonious transition between the mountains and the sea.

Arriving at Tuan Chau Island and transferring to the cruise

On board: Quick briefing of the itinerary and safety information by Cruise Manager ( about 3- 4 hours). Discovering Dau Go and Thien Cung (Heaven) Cave covered with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. The boat heads back to harbor and disembarking at Tuan Chau Marina. Arriving at HaLong and our car transfer to Ha Noi

DistanceHalong –Hanoi: 165km => 4 hour transfer included breaktime on the way

Hotels:

After a brekafast, 08:00 A.m We pick you up at your hotel, departure for Hoa Lu – Tam Coc, enjoying the beautiful sceneries of the rural areas on the way. After arriving in Ninh Binh province, the guide takes you to visit Hoa Lu – the Ancient Royal capital of Viet Nam. We will visit Dinh king temple and Le king temple. in the 10th century, finding out the heroic histories of this two Kings in Chinese Wars. After that, we go to Tam Coc (10 km far from Hoa Lu Have lunch at local restaurant.

After lunch you will get on bamboo boat – rowed by the local people – in Hoang Long river to visit Tam Coc (three caves) on the way. You pass through three enormous caves that provide a brief respite from the intense summer sun. It takes approximately two hours to go up and down the river and along the way, you witness local fisherfolk, village life along the river and, of course, the striking limestone karst formations that Tam Coc is famous for.

Hotels:

After breakfast at hotel, we free at leisure until the time transfer to the airport for flight to Luang Prabang at 12h50

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to hotel. Luang Prabang has been claimed by the UNESCO to be ‘the best preserved city in South East Asia’. During our time here, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham, Wat Mai; we then climb up to the top of mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a panoramic view of the city at sunset and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textile made by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Hotels:

08:00 am. Today, we enjoy a short-guided tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We then embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. On return, we take a short drive to Ban Xangkhong, a village well known for its silk weavings and for its Saa (jute) Papermaking and Ban Phanom, a small village known for its hand weaving.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Hotels:

08:00 am. An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

From there you will visit the morning Phosi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village, Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the turquoise pools or walk along the forest trails. We return to the city by late afternoon to observe the sunset at Wat Phabath.

Overnight in Luang Prabang

Hotels:

After breakfast, we visit The National Museum at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of the artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign.

The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure

Trip Inclusion

Accommodation in the category chosen or similar based on double/twin sharing with daily breakfast.

Meals as mentioned in the program. B:15 Breakfast, L: 4 Lunch,

All local boat rentals as mentioned in the program. Cruise on Seat in coach (SIC) junk in Ha Long bay

Transfer from and to the airports by private vehicle with A/C. Transportation by private vehicle with A/C.

All entrance fees and sightseeing as mentioned in the program. Mineral Water (01 bottle/pax/day)

Tips & personal expenses. Personal insurance. Any service not clearly mentioned in the program.

Cancellation Policy

a. Cancellations must be advised by email / fax b. The cancellation fees will apply:

Cancelation 30 days prior to arrival date: USD 50 per person will be charged.

Cancelation from 20 days to 30 days prior to arrival date: 30% of total invoice amount will be charged

Cancelation from 10 days to 20 days prior to arrival date: 50% of total invoice amount will be charged

Cancelation less than 10 days prior to arrival date or no-show: 100% of total invoice invoice amount will be charged

Cancellation Policy

a. Cancellations must be advised by email / fax b. The cancellation fees will apply:

Cancelation 30 days prior to arrival date: USD 50 per person will be charged.

Cancelation from 20 days to 30 days prior to arrival date: 30% of total invoice amount will be charged

Cancelation from 10 days to 20 days prior to arrival date: 50% of total invoice amount will be charged

Cancelation less than 10 days prior to arrival date or no-show: 100% of total invoice invoice amount will be charged

Confirmation Policy

All of our services are to be booked with Explore Real Asia (in short ERA) in Hanoi. A deposit of at least 30% of the tour price per person is required upon a confirmation of your booking. After we received your deposit or full payment, we will issue our service voucher and send to you by e-mail or fax together with our invoice or receipt of your payment.

Confirmation Policy

All of our services are to be booked with Explore Real Asia (in short ERA) in Hanoi. A deposit of at least 30% of the tour price per person is required upon a confirmation of your booking. After we received your deposit or full payment, we will issue our service voucher and send to you by e-mail or fax together with our invoice or receipt of your payment.

Price In USD (in a private tour for a group of 2 adults)

Date: LOW SEASON (May– Sep

Description

2 pax

3PaxUp

Superior packages

Just starting from $1561/Pax

Inquiry more than 2 or group please contact

First Class

Just starting from $1767/Pax

Deluxe packages

Just starting from $2148/Pax

Date: HIGH SEASON ( Jan – Apr & Oct – Dec)

Description

2 pax

3PaxUp

Superior packages

Just starting from $1564/Pax

Inquiry more than 2 or group please contact

First Class

Just starting from $1897/Pax

Deluxe packages

Just starting from $2268/Pax

Price not apply on holidays in Vietnam

IMPORTANT NOTE: the stamping fee upon arrival ( Cash) at airport:

The stamping fee USD 25 upon arrival ( Cash),will be collected at airport.